A payment for people who have reached retirement age. To qualify for the Age Pension a male must be aged 65 years, while the age at which a female may qualify depends upon her birth date. There are also other eligibility requirements with regard to assets, income and residency which must be met. This payment is the responsibility of the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services.

The Australian Business Number (ABN)

A unique identifying number issued to all entities registered in the Australian Business Register.

Australian Business Register (ABR)

A comprehensive register of information provided by businesses and other entities when they register for an Australian business number. The ABR was established by the A New Tax System (Australian Business Number) Act 1999.

Australian Standard Geographical Classification

The Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) is a classification maintained by the ABS, for the collection and dissemination of geographically classified statistics. The ASGC is updated each year. Except where indicated, all data in the Queensland Regional Profiles 2005 are presented on ASGC 2003.

Average Individual Annual Taxable Income

This is calculated by dividing the total taxable income in an area by the total number of taxable taxpayers.

Average value house prices

The total value of all house sales within the year divided by the total number of sales.

Average Wage and Salary Income

This is calculated by dividing the total wage and salary income in an area by the total number of wage and salary earners.

Average Total Income of Wage and Salary Earners

For wage and salary earners, this is calculated by dividing the total income by the total number of wage and salary earners.

Crude birth rate

The crude birth rate is the number of live births registered for the financial year, per 1,000 estimated resident population of that year (average of estimated resident population at the start and end of period) .

Crude death rate

The crude death rate is the number of deaths registered for the financial year, per 1,000 estimated resident population of that year (average of estimated resident population at the start and end of period).

Disability support pension

A payment for people whose physical, intellectual or psychiatric impairment prevents them from working, or for people who are permanently blind. For the years shown, this payment was the responsibility of the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services.

Dwelling unit

A dwelling unit is a self-contained suite of rooms, including cooking and bathing facilities and intended for long-term residential use. Regardless of whether they are self-contained or not, units within buildings offering institutional care (e.g. hospital) or temporary accommodation (e.g. motels, hostels and holiday apartments) are not defined as dwelling units. Such units are included in the appropriate category of non-residential building approvals. Dwelling units can be created in one of four ways: through new work to create a residential building; through alteration/addition work to an existing residential building; through either new or alteration/addition work on non-residential building or through conversion of a non-residential building to a residential building.

Government cash benefit income

Payments (i.e. government pensions, benefits and allowances) made by Centrelink to ‘income support’ customers. Refers to income support customers only but includes both their income support and non-income support payments if applicable. Customers who were only on a non-income support payment for the entire year have not been counted and the value of their non-income support payments have not been included. Where a customer was on income support for only part of the year they have been included (as well as their non-income support payments if applicable), but for any period they were only on non-income support payments, the value of the payments received in that period are excluded.

Individual annual taxable income

For an individual, the taxable income is the amount remaining after deducting from assessable income all deductions allowed under the Income Tax Assessment Act for that year and is the amount to which tax rates are applied. Average individual annual taxable income in an area is calculated by dividing the total taxable income by the total number of taxable taxpayers.

Investment income

Includes interest from financial institutions, net rent and dividends or distributions (including imputation credits) from Australian companies, corporate unit trusts or public trading trusts. Includes distributions from non-primary production trusts which mainly comprises income from investments in cash management trusts, property trusts, money market trusts, mortgage trusts and unit trusts.

The areas specified as local government areas are defined in the Australian Standard Geographical Classification (ASGC) (cat. no. 1216.0). LGAs are spatial units which represent the whole, undivided geographical area of responsibility of an incorporated local government council. In Queensland these include cities, towns, shires, Aboriginal councils and Island councils. Local government areas are made up of one or more statistical local areas.

Median value house prices

The mid-point of the distribution of recorded house prices.

Motor cycles

Includes two and three wheeled mopeds, scooters, motor tricycles and motor cycles with side cars.

Motor vehicles on register

All vehicles registered with a state or territory government motor vehicle registry for unrestricted use on public roads with the following exceptions:

diplomatic vehicles and

vehicles registered by the defence forces.

Net debt

The difference between selected liabilities (deposits held, advances received, and borrowing) and selected financial assets (cash and deposits, advances paid, and investments, loans and placements). A negative figure indicates that a council is in a net lending position.

Net financial worth

Net financial worth is equal to financial assets minus liabilities. It is a broader measure than net debt in that it incorporates provisions made (such as superannuation, but excluding depreciation and bad debts) as well as holdings of equity. Net financial worth includes all classes of financial assets and liabilities, only some of which are included in net debt.

Newstart Allowance

A payment which provides assistance to working-aged unemployed people, aimed at ensuring recipients participate in activities designed to help their employment prospects. Long-term Newstart Allowance customers are those who have been receiving payments for more than 364 days. For the years shown, this payment was the responsibility of the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services.

Non-residential building

A non-residential building is primarily intended for purposes other than long-term residential purposes.

Other income

Other income reported on the individual tax return that was not allocated to wage and salary income, own unincorporated business income, investment income or superannuation and annuity income.

Other pensions and allowances

Persons receiving these payments contribute to the total selected income support customer numbers:

Austudy - The Austudy payment, introduced 1 July 1998, provides assistance to students aged 25 years and older. It is made to students whose financial circumstances are such that without financial help, full time study would not be possible.

Carer Allowance - A payment for a person providing full-time care to another person who has a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability and who (for the years shown) received a payment from the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Service or Department of Veteran’s Affairs.

Carer Payment - A payment for a person providing full-time care to another person who has a physical, intellectual or psychiatric disability and who (for the years shown) did not receive a payment from the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Service or Department of Veteran's Affairs, subject to an income and assets test on the care recipient.

Double Orphan Pension - A payment which provides assistance in meeting the costs of bringing up children who are orphans.

Exceptional Circumstances - This payment provides assistance to farmers living in ‘exceptional circumstances’ affected areas (e.g. areas affected by drought) who are having difficulty meeting family and personal living expenses.

Mobility Allowance - A payment which provides assistance to disabled people in employment or vocational training, who are unable to use public transport without substantial assistance.

Newstart Mature Age Allowance - A payment which commenced on 20 March 1994 providing assistance to older, long-term unemployed males aged 60 and over, but below the Age Pension age.

Parenting Payment - Partnered - The Parenting Payment attempts to ensure that a parent/guardian who is a member of a couple and who has a child under 16 years of age receives an adequate level of income without needing to look for work.

Sickness Allowance - A payment which provides assistance to people who are temporarily incapacitated and unable to work because of sickness or accident.

Special Benefit - A payment which provides assistance to a person in severe financial need due to circumstances outside their control, and for whom no other pension, allowance or other support are available.

Widow Allowance - A payment which commenced in January 1995, that assists women who become widowed, divorced or separated after turning 50 years of age, and who have no recent workforce experience.

Wife pension - A payment which assists the wife of an Age or Disability Support pensioner, when the wife is not eligible for any other pension. The Wife Pension is being phased out from 1 July 1995.

Widow Class B - A payment which provides income to certain widows who do not have any dependent children, have limited means of income, and have lost the financial support of their partner. The Widow B Pension is gradually being phased out from 1 July 1987.

For the years shown, these payments were the responsibility of the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services.

Other vehicles

For new motor vehicle sales, this describes light trucks which includes: trucks, buses, vans, all terrain wagons, pick-up/cab chassis (whether four-wheel drive or not) with a gross vehicle mass of 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes. Also included are heavy trucks and buses, with a gross vehicle mass exceeding 3.5 tonnes. Includes four-wheel drive passenger vehicles.

Own unincorporated business income

Income as reported on individual tax returns including net income (or loss) from business and distributions from partnerships and trusts for primary production activities. Excludes distributions from trusts for non-primary production activities. Excludes the income of working directors/owners of incorporated business who are classified as employees (as income is included under wage and salary income).

Parenting Payment

The Parenting Payment attempts to ensure that a parent/guardian (single or member of a couple) who has a child under 16 years of age receives an adequate level of income without needing to look for work. It is an amalgamation of the Parenting Allowance and the Sole Parent Pension. Within the Parenting Payment these two former payments are known as the Parenting Payment - Partnered and the Parenting Payment - Single, respectively. For the years shown, this payment was the responsibility of the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services.

Passenger vehicles

For new motor vehicle sales, this includes vehicles designed primarily for the carriage of people, such as cars, station wagons and people movers. Does not include four-wheel drive passenger vehicles as these are included in ‘Other vehicles’.

For motor vehicles on register, this includes cars, station wagons, four-wheel drive passenger vehicles and forward control passenger vehicles with up to nine seats (including the driver).

Population density

The population density for a region is calculated by dividing the estimated resident population by the land area.

Private sector houses

A house is a detached building primarily used for long-term residential purposes. It consists of one dwelling unit. Building ownership is classified as either public or private sector and is based on the sector of intended owner of the completed building at the time of approval.

Proportion of population in remoteness areas

Indicates the proportion of the population living in each category of Remoteness. The population counts are those at the 2001 Census.

Remoteness Areas

The Remoteness Structure contains the following categories which provide a measurement of whether geographic distances impose restrictions on the accessibility to the widest range of goods, services and opportunities for social interaction:

Very Remote Queensland - imposes the highest restriction e.g. The far west parts of Queensland

Residential building

A residential building is a building consisting of one or more dwelling units. Residential buildings can be either houses or other residential buildings.

Room occupancy rate

Occupancy expressed as a percentage of total capacity available during the survey period.

School

A school (other than a special school) must satisfy the following criteria:

Its major activity is the provision of full-time day primary or secondary education or the provision of primary or secondary distance education.

It is headed by a principal (or equivalent) responsible for its internal operation.

It is possible for students to enrol for a minimum of 4 continuous weeks, excluding breaks for school vacations.

The term ‘school’ in this product includes special schools in institutions and hospitals, mission schools and similar establishments. The term excludes preschools, kindergarten centres, pre-primary schools or pre-primary classes in or attached to non-special schools, senior technical and agricultural colleges, evening schools, continuation classes and institutions such as business or coaching colleges.

Single location businesses

Businesses engaged in productive activity on a relatively permanent basis operating from one location and registered with the Australian Business Register.

State/territory

States and territories are geographic areas and political entities with fixed boundaries. States and territories consist of one or more statistical divisions. In aggregate, they cover Australia without gaps or overlaps.

Statistical divisions

Statistical divisions (SDs) consist of one or more statistical subdivisions (SSDs) and form a larger and more stable spatial unit for the presentation of data. SDs are defined as socially and economically homogeneous regions characterised by identifiable links between inhabitants, under the unifying influence of one or more major cities or towns. In aggregate, they cover Australia without gaps or overlaps.

Statistical local areas

The statistical local area (SLA) is a general purpose spatial unit. It is the base spatial unit used to collect and disseminate statistics other than those collected from the Population Censuses. In non-census years, the SLA is the smallest unit defined in the ASGC. SLAs are based on the boundaries of incorporated bodies of local government (i.e. local government areas) where these exist. Where there is no incorporated body of local government, SLAs are defined to cover the unincorporated areas. One or more SLAs can make up an LGA. In aggregate, SLAs cover Australia without gaps or overlaps.

Statistical subdivisions

Statistical subdivisions (SSDs) consist of one or more statistical local areas (SLAs) and form an intermediate size spatial unit for the presentation of data. SSDs are defined as socially and economically homogeneous regions characterised by identifiable links between inhabitants. One or more SSDs can make up a statistical division (SD). In aggregate, they cover Australia without gaps or overlaps.

Student

A student is a person who is formally enrolled in a school and active in a course of study other than preschool or TAFE courses. Students not present at school on the annual National Schools Statistics Collection (NSSC) census date were included if they were expected to be absent for less than 4continuous weeks (excluding school vacations) and were excluded if they had left the school or had been absent without explanation for 4 continuous weeks (excluding school vacations) prior to the census date.

Superannuation and annuity income

Includes superannuation and similar pensions and annuities paid by an Australian superannuation funds, a retirement savings account provider, a registered organisation or life assurance company and pensions paid by a fund established for the benefit of Commonwealth, state or territory employees and their dependants. Includes bonuses from life insurance companies and friendly societies.

Takings from accommodation

Gross revenue from the provision of accommodation. Takings from meals are excluded.

Total assets

Refers to the total of financial and non-financial assets held by councils at 30 June. Assets are instruments or entities over which ownership rights are enforced by institutional units and from which economic benefits may be derived by holding them, or using them, over a period of time. Assets fall into two classes,non-financial and financial.

For wage and salary earners, the sum of income from all sources as reported on the individual income tax return for the financial year. Average total income in an area is calculated by dividing the total income by the total number of wage and salary earners.

Total liabilities

Refers to deposits held, advances received, borrowing, employee entitlements and provisions, and other non-equity liabilities of councils at 30 June.

Included are persons whose main payment type is Age Pension, Austudy, Carer Allowance, Carer Payment, Disability Support Pension, Double Orphan Pension, Exceptional Circumstances, Mobility Allowance, Newstart Allowance, Newstart Mature Age Allowance, Parenting Payment Partnered, Parenting Payment Single, Partner Allowance, Sickness Allowance, Special Benefit, Widow Allowance, Wife pension, Widow Class B and Youth Allowance. Excluded from income support customers are persons whose main payment type is Bereavement Allowance, Childcare Benefit, Farm Family Restart and Family Tax Benefit Parts A and B. For the years shown, these payments were the responsibility of the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services. Brief descriptions of each included payment type are provided in this glossary.

Total vehicles

For new motor vehicle sales, included are passenger vehicles, four-wheel drive vehicles, trucks, buses, vehicles with diplomatic and consular plates, State/Territory and Commonwealth owned vehicles and vehicles belonging to the defence forces. Excluded are motor cycles, plant and equipment and unpowered vehicles.

Trucks

For motor vehicles on register, includes rigid vehicles constructed primarily for load carrying with a gross vehicle mass of 3.5 tonnes or more; articulated trucks, being vehicles constructed primarily for load carrying consisting of a prime mover having no significant load carrying area but with a turn table device which can be linked to a trailer and with or without a trailer the gross combination mass will be 3.5 tonnes or more; and non-freight carrying trucks which includes specialist vehicles such as ambulances, mobile cranes or vehicles fitted with special purpose equipment and having no goods carrying capacity.

Unemployment

Persons aged 15 and over who were not employed during the reference week and had actively looked for full-time or part-time work at any time in the 4 weeks up to the end of the reference week and were available for work in the reference week or were waiting to start a new job within 4 weeks from the end of the reference week and could have started in the reference week if the job had been available then.

Unemployment rate

For any group, the number of unemployed persons expressed as a percentage of the labour force in the same group.

Value of agricultural production

The value placed on recorded production at the wholesale prices realised in the market place.

Value of building

Statistics on the value of building work approved are derived by aggregating the estimated ‘value of building work when completed’ as reported on building approval documents provided to local councils or other building approval authorities. Conceptually these value data should exclude the value of land and landscaping but include site preparation costs. These estimates are usually a reliable indicator of the completed value of ‘houses’. However, for ‘other residential buildings’ and ‘non-residential buildings’, they can differ significantly from the completed value of the building as final costs and contracts have not been established before council approval is sought and gained.

Wage and salary earners

Persons aged 15 years and over who have submitted an individual income tax return and for whom wage and salary income was the principal (or main) source of income for the financial year.

Wage and salary income

Wage and salary income, as reported on the income tax return, includes gross income as shown on the ‘PAYG payment summary - individual non-business’ as well as allowances, commissions, bonuses, tips, gratuities, consultation fees, honoraria and other payments for services. Allowances and other earnings may include car, travel or transport allowances for tools, clothing or laundry and dirt, risk, meal or entertainment allowances. (Note: PAYG (Pay as You Go) payment summaries were previously known as Group Certificates). Average wage and salary income in an area is calculated by dividing the total wage and salary income by the total number of wage and salary earners.

Youth allowance

A payment which commenced on 1 July 1998, that provides income support to young people who are either looking for work, studying or who are sick. For the years shown, this payment was the responsibility of the Australian Government Department of Family and Community Services.

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